NS11-1 Parcel Prospectivity

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Proximal to distal postrift structural provinces on the western Scotian Margin, offshore Eastern Canada: Geological context and parcel prospectivity for Call-for-Bids NS11-1, Mark E. Deptuck

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Parcel Descriptions

FIGURE: 1b
Map showing location of NS11-1 nominated parcels. Limits of autochthonous salt basin and boundaries between structural provinces are the same as in Figure 1a.

The acreage in the NS11-1 Call for Bids is a mix of four industry nominated and four non-industry nominated parcels located in deepwater on the western Scotian slope (Figure 1b). The parcels are found in water depths ranging from ca. 1440 to 2730 m (Parcel 1), 1745 to 3070 m (Parcel 2), 2050 to 3375 m (Parcel 3), 1760 to 3765 m (Parcel 4), 2570 to 4200 m (Parcel 5), 1120 to 3750 m (Parcel 6), 975 to 2200 m (Parcel 7), and 920 to 1930 m (Parcel 8).

Few wells have been drilled on or near any of the NS11-1 parcels. Shubenacadie H-100 (TDs in Cenomanian strata on the slope) is located just inside Parcel 6. It was spudded by Shell in 1982 and was Nova Scotia’s first deepwater test. The primary target was an interpreted lower Tertiary turbidite fan, and the secondary target was a Miocene “bright spot” believed to be a direct hydrocarbon indicator. The well did not encounter any hydrocarbons and the primary target was later determined to be an upper slope erosional remnant composed predominantly of chalks and marls.

FIGURE: 6
Time-thickness map between the top Jurassic carbonate bank marker and the Early Eocene unconformity, showing the widespread erosion of the Cretaceous to Paleocene stratigraphic succession caused, at least in part, by the bolide impact.

Albatross B-13 (TDs in late Middle Jurassic strata of the Abenaki Formation) is located in the northern part of Parcel 7. The primary target was the Jurassic carbonate bank edge. Scattered porosity was observed throughout the Baccaro Member with partial loss of circulation occurring in some intervals. Modest mud-gas peaks were recorded at two intervals, 3434-3440 m and 3012 m, but no hydrocarbon bearing zones were encountered (Kidston et al. 2005). The trap at this location may have been breached by the prominent Early Eocene unconformity, which cuts down to the top of the carbonate bank at this location (see Figure 6).

Shelburne G-29 (TDs in Upper Jurassic strata on the slope) is located in the northeast corner of Parcel 8. The primary target, an interpreted Upper Cretaceous to Lower Tertiary submarine, was later determined to be an erosional remnant composed predominantly of chalks and marls, similar to what was found in Shubenacadie H-100. The secondary target was an interpreted salt-cored carbonate promontory draped by Middle Jurassic oolitic shelfal limestones (Kidston et al. 2007). A six meter section of Jurassic carbonates was penetrated at the base of the well with oolitic wackestone, but these were likely resedimented from the bank edge to a foreslope setting above what is now believed to be a rift-related northeast-trending basement high (see Figure 13a).

FIGURE: 13a
Gridded time-structure map on the top autochthonous salt surface, correlated along the equivalent primary weld.

No wells have been drilled on parcels 1 through 5, but Torbrook C-15 (TDs in probable Miocene strata) is located 7.3 km north of Parcel 4. The primary targets in this well were Miocene submarine fans, which were found to be siltstone and claystone dominated.

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